The High Court has been asked not to grant approval for a Serious Fraud Office (SFO) settlement with the arms company BAE Systems. Campaigners want a judicial review of the SFO's decision to drop investigations into the company.

The Serious Fraud Office is to face legal action over its “plea bargain” with the arms company BAE Systems. The Campaign Against Arms Trade and The Corner House have begun the process of a judicial review.

Faced with allegations of corruption in five continents, the arms company BAE Systems have agreed with the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to pay out £30 million and admit to criminal charges involving “accounting irregularities”.

The Serious Fraud Office has triggered outrage by reaching a “plea bargain” with the arms company BAE Systems. BAE have admitted to two criminal charges and agreed to pay over £280 million, but will not face court.

In a potential breakthrough, a former agent of the arms company BAE Systems has been charged with corruption offences. The news has been welcomed by the Campaign Against Arms Trade, who say that the truth must come out in court.

The news that BAE will be prosecuted shouldn't be such a surprise. In a fair world, it would be normal. But fairness is not a quality that has ever applied to BAE, a company that has spent years using its influence to avoid facing justice.

The arms company BAE Systems will be charged with corruption after years of allegations and controversy. The Serious Fraud Office has asked the attorney-general to initiate prosecution on charges of multimillion pound bribery.

An international watchdog which monitors corruption says the UK breached its obligations under international law when it cancelled a Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation into arms deals between BAE Systems and Saudi Arabia.